The Sagrada Familia or Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family is one of the most famous and visited monuments in Spain and in Barcelona. But this should not surprise anyone considering that it is a church converted into a work of art and that it also has a rich history. So it is definitely a place that everyone should visit at least once in their life.
However, this emblematic and impressive Catholic basilica, designed by the great architect Antoni Gaudí, hides some secrets and details that not everyone knows. If you want to know what they are, we invite you to continue reading to discover them and take note of them before visiting it.
1. It has been under construction for over a century
The Sagrada Familia is a construction project that began in 1882 and since then nine architects have gone through the works. But it is expected that the current architect will be the last, since its completion is scheduled for the year 2026. Exactly 100 years after the death of Gaudí, who only finished a quarter of the basilica. If so, its construction will have taken 144 years to complete, but it will definitely have been worth it.
When completed in 2026, the Sagrada Familia would have taken 10 times longer to build than the Great Pyramids, 123 years longer than the Taj Mahal, and 50 years longer than the Great Wall of China.
2. The Sagrada Familia is the true center of the city
Although even many Barcelonans don’t know it, the Sagrada Familia is the true center of the city. Located in the middle of the plain, it is practically the same distance from the temple to the sea as it is to the mountains, but also to Sants and Sant Andreu, and the same distance to the Besos and LLobregat rivers.
3. The Sagrada Familia is one of the World Heritage Sites
Although it was still a long way from being complete, La Sagrada Familia was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984. The main reason for this designation was its unique architecture and its great symbolic load. However, this shouldn’t come as a surprise considering Gaudí’s ability to create something so innovative and artistic. The Sagrada Familia being just one of the seven Gaudí buildings that are included in this category.
4. Construction started with another architect.
Although this is one of Gaudí’s most famous works, he was not the first architect of the project, but Francisco Paula del Villar. who had offered to work on this project free of charge, but due to problems with the town hall ended up abandoning him.
After del Villar’s resignation, Joseph María Bocabella, who was in charge of the project, offered the job to his main adviser, the architect Joan Martorell. But he would decline the offer and recommend his best disciple, a young architect named Antonio Gaudí, who was 31 years old at the time.
5. The Sagrada Familia was a victim of the Civil War.
The Sagrada Familia was one of the monuments that suffered the ravages of the Spanish Civil War. In fact, among the greatest damages that are remembered is the fire in the crypt that destroyed models, plans and sketches left by Gaudí. Who, knowing that he would not see the works of the Sagrada Familia finished, had kept them there so that they could continue the project when he died.
As there are no plans, sketches or models of how the finished temple should be according to Gaudí. The architects who preceded him were forced to try to interpret the work and even improvise. For what we will never know, if after the end of the work the final design will be exactly the same as what its creator imagined.
6. Its construction depends entirely on private financing.
It is possible that perhaps many do not know it, but the sacred It received the name of Expiatory Temple since its construction does not have the support of the government or the church. The budget, which is approximately 25 million euros a year, is obtained entirely from entrance fees to the church and from multiple and large private donations.
So, if you decide to visit this beautiful temple, you can proudly call yourself a collaborator in the construction of the Sagrada Familia. There are several types of tickets depending on what you want to visit and the average visit lasts about 90 minutes.
7. It will be the tallest church on the planet
When the works are finished and the tallest tower is finished, it will be the tallest religious building in all of Europe and on the planet. The central tower in the middle will reach 172.5 meters in height. Despite having a mighty height, Gaudí believed that nothing made by man should be higher than the work of God. It is no coincidence that the maximum height is one meter less than Montjuïc, which is Barcelona’s mountain, which is also the highest point in the city.
8. Its design is inspired by nature
One of the first things Gaudí did after taking over the design of the Sagrada Familia was to get rid of straight lines and angles, as they did not appear naturally. So the naturalistic style is manifested throughout the work, with interiors designed to represent nature, with columns in the form of trees. In addition to a large number of stained glass windows that provide light and color and the plant and animal elements hidden throughout the basilica.
9. The Sagrada Familia will have 18 towers with great symbolism
One of the curiosities of the Sagrada Familia are their towers. The basilica will have 18 towers when it is finished. In each portal or facade four, which in total will add 12, for the twelve apostles. In the transept 4 towers of the four evangelists will rise, in the apse a 120 m tower will rise. dedicated to the Virgin and the central tower-dome will be for Jesus and will measure 172.5 meters. At the moment totally finished there are only 8 towers left.
10. It is one of the most visited churches in Europe
Although it is known that it is one of the most visited monuments in Europe, what many do not know is that the Sagrada Familia is also the second most visited church in Europe, only surpassed by Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.
11. The magic square on the Passion façade
Another of the curiosities of the Sagrada Familia is on the Passion façade. There you can see a magic square. Add your numbers in any direction and the result will always be 33, the age of Christ crucified. Others suggest that the 33 is a reference to Gaudi’s Freemason history. But it is something that we will not know exactly, because Gaudí took the secret of the magic square to his grave, leaving everyone to theorize and invent conspiracies.
12. In the Sagrada Familia everything has symbolism
One of the curiosities of the Sagrada Familia is that nothing was left to chance and everything has a meaning in it. Starting with the fact that the temple is a representation of the Bible in stone.
The Sagrada Familia also has three portals dedicated to the theological virtues: faith, hope and charity. In addition to the genealogy of Jesus and the representation of the ages of man through the Magi.
They also exist, as differential features we can see two columns that rest on two turtles, one from the sea and the other from land. Which, according to speculation, would be a nod to Chinese culture that represents the balance of the cosmos. Although it is also believed that it could have a kabbalistic meaning, as representatives of the duality that supports the pillars of rigor and mercy of the tree of life.
For its part, the 18 towers that the Sagrada Familia will have symbolize different figures of the Christian religion. Of which, the 12 that are placed at the lowest height, represent the Apostles and the 4 after the evangelists. While the next to the Virgin Mary and the highest of all to Jesus Christ.
But the symbolism is not only on the outside, but also on the inside. The dome of the apse has a mosaic-based cover that represents the garments of God that cover the celestial vault.
13. The remains of Gaudí rest in the Sagrada Familia
Gaudí’s remains rest in the Sagrada Familia, in the Capilla del Carmen de la Crypt. But he is not the only one. The man who started it all, Joseph María Bocabella, is also buried there.